ometimes it seems like gaming keyboards are a dime a dozen. They are all pretty much the same; you can count on anti-ghosting technology and backlighting along with the ability to record macros on many keyboards. Mad Catz has a new gaming keyboard called the S.T.R.I.K.E. 5 that’s welcomingly different.

The keyboard has a modular design with five different components that can be assembled depending on your game playing desires. The central keyboard section has your tactile QWERTY layout and backlighting with 16 million colors to choose from. The number pad section of the keyboard is removable and has a number of macro keys that allow you to program multiple keystrokes to one key. It also comes with two lengths of cable allowing you to have it closer or further from the main section of the keyboard.

The keyboard also has a Control Module with a tiny OLED display and extra macro recording keys for shortcuts, as well as media controls. The S.T.R.I.K.E. 5 also has a three-part active palm rest and two wrist rests for comfortable use. The palm rest has its own thumb wheel and an action button giving even more control over your game.

The Mad Catz S.T.R.I.K.E. 5 keyboard can be pre-ordered right now for $199.99 (USD), and is compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7 and 8.

Microsoft’s promised Windows 8 support for its existing Touch Mouse has finally arrived. After being unveiled back in February, the software maker has now released Mouse and Keyboard Center 2.0 — an update designed to improve keyboard and mouse support in Windows 8. Existing Touch Mouse users can now take advantage of a variety of multitouch gestures in Windows 8, including two finger movements to manage apps and display the Windows 8 charms.

STILL NO GESTURE SUPPORT FOR WEDGE TOUCH MOUSE

We noted in our Microsoft Wedge Touch Mouse review that the company made the odd decision to not include Windows 8 gesture support for that particular product. Unfortunately, the Mouse and Keyboard Center 2.0 update does not change this. If you’re a Wedge Touch Mouse user then you’re still going to be limited to scrolling gestures only.

The Verge got a chance to test out Microsoft’s Touch Mouse with the updated support for Windows 8 and can report that it makes navigating the interface a lot easier. You no longer need to navigate to the hot corners to activate Charms, or use keyboard shortcuts. We’d like to see Microsoft extend this support to other Touch mice in its range, but its initial release is enough to improve navigation with a Touch Mouse on Windows 8

Most video game controllers sporting a firearm form factor are a far cry from realistic — bright colors,odd shapes and obvious thumbsticks leave many accessories looking more like toys than weapons. Not David Kotkin’s Delta Six. This gun-shaped controller’s first prototype looked so much like a real rifle, Kotkin told us, it had to be redesigned. An orange tip, whitewashed body and a few less authentic looking components don’t make the Delta Six look any less believable as a digital soldier’s modern musket, but itdoes make it less likely to be mistaken for the real McCoy. The peripheral’s internals haven’t changed though — an accelerometer to help players aim and turn, cheek-sensing pressure sensors (for looking down the scope), faux-recoil and its assortment of modular components are still all on target.

Like all budding hardware projects these days, the Delta Six is looking towards the crowd to source its production. According to the peripheral’s Kickstarter page, the Delta Six will be available between July and August next year, boasting compatibility with the Xbox 360, PS3, PC, Wii U and even the OUYA. Pitching in $89 buys the basic submachine gun body (with a free rifle attachment for first-week buyers), and subsequent levels tack on additional attachments, bonus items and more. Kotkin needs $500,000 to make his rifle-shaped dream a reality. Like-minded FPS gamers can join him at the source link below. Not a dreamer? Feel free to read on for the official press release (plus a video and an additional image), instead.

Now that Apple iPhone 5 has been released on the market, and you are all looking to upgrade (or are you?), I would recommend picking up the truly spectacular, soon to be released, 24 karat gold editions, from London based Gold & Co. The black version comes in 24-karat gold plating and the white in 24-karat beautiful rose gold, and will set you back $4,380 USD.

Around 7 a.m. Pacific time today, Apigy Inc., the company behind the Lockitron, announced on its Web page that it was accepting pre-orders for a new version its keyless lock, which lets you unlock your door with your smartphone.

Twelve hours later, the product-in-progress had received double its initial goal of $150,000.

So what’s so special about Lockitron? For one, it’s part of the growing trend of keyless entry to both cars and homes, as the New York Times wrote about here last year. For home owners that deal with a lot of foot traffic — dog walkers, nannies or tenants — it can be more convenient than carrying and sharing multiple sets of keys.

The new Lockitron will also with with Bluetooth 4.0, in addition to Wi-Fi and NFC (near field communication) technology, presenting a broader range of options for smartphone consumers. So, if you’re using an iPhone 5, you can activate Bluetooth as you’re nearing your door and communicate with Lockitron that way — no WiFi or data connection needed. If you have an NFC-equipped Android handset, you can swipe your phone against the lock and open it that way.

Lockitron’s updated mobile app also sends a combination of text messages, push notifications and emails to let you know when the UPS delivery guy might have knocked on your door, whether the dog walker arrived on time and exactly when the kids got home from school.

While some consumers might like the additional levels of security offered through systems like this, others might cringe at the idea of an obvious electronic box hanging on their front doors. So Lockitron has designed a box that now fits over the lock on the inside of the door, but can still communicate with your smartphone or cellphone.

Apigy says the new Lockitron is expected to ship in March, and in an interview with AllThingsD, founder Paul Gerhardt stressed that customers who pre-ordered the product won’t be charged for it until it’s actually ready.

For this week’s Design Milk Dairy curated art collection picks, I decided to choose Fall-themed iPhone cases. Those of you who just got a brand new iPhone 5 will certainly find yourself needing a new case. Here are a few cool-weather-ish cases that might strike your fancy.

In an ongoing effort to support independent artists from around the world, Design Milk is proud to partner with Society6 to offer The Design Milk Dairy, a special collection of Society6 artists’ work curated by Design Milk and our readers. Proceeds from the The Design Milk Dairy help us bring Design Milk to you every day.

You see, these headphone jack plugs are designed to look like tiny Luchadors. Just snap them into your empty headphone jack, and a tiny wrestler will protect your phone from all who dare to take him on. While the’ll look pretty cool on most phones, the wrestler will look like he’s doing a headstand in my iPhone 5′s oddly-placed new headphone jack.

You can choose from five colored masks, including red, pink, yellow, blue and black. The Luchador headphone jack plugs sell for ¥630 (~$8 USD) over at Strapya World.

For some reason, in Japan it’s become a popular pastime to stick odd little doo-dads into the empty headphone jack on smartphones and media players. While the utility of these things is somewhat questionable, there’s no argument that they’re fun little embellishments for your gadgets. But up until now, most of them have been too cutesy for my taste. That has now changed.

Resembling little periscopes, EarPods feature sound ports built into the stem, as well as the sides. The vents on the side of each EarPod “allows air inside the stem, which acts as an acoustic chamber, to flow out,” according to Apple. “So you hear deeper, richer bass tones.”

To get the fit right, Apple notes in a video posted to its website that it 3D-scanned hundreds of ears and looked for commonality to fit a form for a broad range of ears.

“They rest comfortably in your ears, but they don’t create a seal the way in-ear headphones do,” the video said.

It’s been rumored that Apple has been working on new headphones. In fact, the company filed for a patentearlier this year for “vented in-the-ear headphones,” which aim to cut back on the echoes you might hear of your voice while making phone calls.

What do you think of the new EarPods? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

I’m very particular about what kind of case I get for my iPhone. I have but a few, and it can take me a long time to find ones that appeal to me. But I have to say that the durable SYSTM iPhone cases look pretty spiffy.

While some rugged cases look pretty drab, the SYSTM iPhone cases from Incase are very good-looking, and come in nice, bold color combinations. There are five models to choose from, and each of them has got some interesting design elements. They have raised side bumpers, reinforced corners, and the Vise, Chisel and Hammer models even have Poron XRD cushioning foam to protect your precious iPhone from drops and bumps.

Prices for the SYSTM iPhone Cases range from $24.95 and $49.95(USD), and you can check out the whole line-up over at Systm.

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